Suspect in theft at Modesto school ends up stuck on roof

A man suspected of theft from the office of Grace Lutheran School in Modesto ended up asking police officers for help in getting down from the roof.

“He’s going to jail for theft,” police Sgt. Steve Stanfield said as 26-year-old Jorge Maldonado sat in the back of a patrol car in the parking lot of the school at Orangeburg and Enslen avenues.

The incident happened about 1:50 p.m. Monday. Dispatchers reported that the school was on lockdown and a search perimeter was established after school office staff reported the theft. Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves said the suspect had been located on the roof and a stolen wallet was recovered.

Maldonado apparently decided the roof of a school building was a good place to lay low, Stanfield said, and scaled a fence and side of a building where there was a balcony.

Officers found him on the roof of a single-story classroom building and told him to stay put. Staying put was easy enough, but getting back to the ground was another matter. “He indicated, ‘I’ll come down, I just need help,’ ” Stanfield said.

Firefighters provided an extension ladder so Maldonado was able to climb down.

No one was hurt during the incident, Stanfield said. “We think it was naptime, so the kids, as far as we know, don’t even know it happened.”

School staff confirmed that was the case, and because of the Lincoln’s Day holiday, only preschoolers were on campus.

This story was originally published February 8, 2016 at 3:15 PM with the headline "Suspect in theft at Modesto school ends up stuck on roof."